29 Aug 18

Mermaid Track, Rufus Castle, St Andrews Church and Pennsylvania Castle Wood

A mass invasion of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins along Penns Weare and Wakeham. Hundreds of birds feeding on insects before heading off over Channel. Also about a few Willow Warblers and a Blackcap in Penn's Weare.

What a difference a day makes, yesterday there were dozens of Common Blues about, today just a female on the South West Coast path. Also here a Bloody-nosed Beetle on a plant, only the second one I've seen that wasn't trundling along a path.

Other butterflies seen were Holly Blue and Meadow Brown in the grounds of St Andrews Church, where there were 2 Wall Lizards.

Here are a few images from this afternoon.

A not so good photo of a Marmalade Hoverfly

A Bloody-nosed Beetle. Not sure why he's up at the top of the plant as it can't fly as its wing cases are fused together. Maybe it was checking out where it was.

A very worn female Common Blue

A Wall Lizard

And another....

......and one more.

 Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax) 

And one of Harlequin Ladybirds still at the top of Penns Wood.

Ships Today

This is the British Combat vessel, HMS Dragon. More on this vessel Here.

This the Container Ship the Elbcarrier, flying the Cypriot Flag. Its on its way from Dublin to Rotterdam, Holland. More on this Cargo vessel Here.

This is Glovis Safety a Vehicles Carrier flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. It is on its way to Bremerhaven, Denmark from Dakar, Senegal. More on this vessel Here